Puri: President Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday hailed the doctors, nurses and other health workers for their services and sacrifices during the Covid-19 pandemic, despite many of them contracting the virus.
“Our doctors, nurses and health workers displayed this spirit of service during the COVID pandemic. They were also infected with the coronavirus, but even in such extreme circumstances, they did not lose courage and were engaged in the treatment of people. Many of our corona warriors sacrificed their lives but the dedication of their co-workers remained unwavering. The whole country would always be indebted to such warriors,” the President said.
Kovind, who was on a two day visit to Odisha, has told this while speaking on the occasion of inauguration of the three-year long celebrations of the 150th birth anniversary of Srimad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Prabhupad, the founder of Gaudiya Math and Mission in Puri today.
He asserted that humanity and truth are supreme and cannot be divided on the basis of caste, gender or religion, as serving the needy has always been accorded top priority in Indian culture.
He also said though various religious traditions and practices are prevalent in different parts of India, there is only one belief and that is to work for the welfare of all, considering the entirety of humanity as one family.
“Serving the needy has been given top priority in our culture. Humanity and truth are supreme, which cannot be divided. The ultimate goal is welfare of the society,” the President said.
The President said that God is worshiped in all its forms. But the tradition of worshiping God with Bhakti-Bhav (devotion) has been significant in India. Here many great saints have practiced selfless worship. Even among such great saints, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has a special place. Inspired by his extraordinary devotion, a large number of people chose the path of Bhakti.
Invoking the 16th century Bhakti saint Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, President mR.Kovind said the tradition of worshipping the Almighty with ‘Bhakti Bhav’ (devotion) has been significant in India.
The word ‘Mahaprabhu’ was added to Sri Chaitanty’s name because of his great teaching to the society,” the president said, adding, inspired by his extraordinary devotion, a large number of people chose the path of Bhakti.
The President said that saints of Bhakti-Marg were above the prevailing discrimination of that time based on religion, caste, gender and rituals. Therefore, people of all classes were not only inspired by them but also took refuge in this path. Guru Nanak Dev ji tried to build an egalitarian society while walking on the Bhakti-Marg.
He expressed confidence that the Gaudiya Mission would be successful in its resolve of spreading the message of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to the world, keeping its objective of human welfare as paramount.
Addressing the august gathering, while Prof Ganeshi Lal reflected on the essential divinity of the soul, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said, that the eternal messages of divine personalities, right from Sri Chaitanya to Srila Prabhupada find expression in each and every page of the New Education Policy being implemented in the country with the blessings of the President and under the able guidance of the Prime Minister.